Hey there, dessert lovers! If you’re anything like me, there’s nothing quite like whipping up a sweet treat to brighten your day. Whether you’re craving something chocolatey, fruity, or classic and comforting, this collection of 10 irresistible dessert recipes has got you covered. These are tried-and-true favorites that are user-friendly, with simple ingredients and step-by-step instructions to make baking a breeze. I’ve included prep times, servings, and some handy tips to help you along the way. Let’s get baking!
1. Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Crispy edges, chewy centers, and gooey chocolate chips—the ultimate cookie.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Servings: 48 cookies
Ingredients
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons hot water
½ teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
- Gather your ingredients, making sure your butter is softened, and your eggs are room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Beat butter, white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
- Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt.
- Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and walnuts.
- Drop spoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake in the preheated oven until edges are nicely browned, about 10 minutes.
- Cool on the baking sheets briefly before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container or serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips: Chill the dough to prevent spreading. Use dark chocolate for a twist. This recipe is from Allrecipes.
2. The Best Rolled Sugar Cookies
Perfect for cut-outs and decorating—soft, flavorful, and fun to make with kids.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Additional Time: 1 hr
Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
Servings: 60 cookies
Ingredients
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups white sugar
1 ½ cups butter, softened
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Directions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Beat sugar and softened butter together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least 1 hour (or overnight).
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Roll out dough to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thickness.
- Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Carefully transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely before decorating.
- Enjoy!
Tips: Ice with confectioners’ sugar and milk for easy decorating. These are great for holidays.
3. Coconut Macaroons
Five-ingredient chewy coconut cookies—simple and delicious.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Servings: 12 macaroons
Ingredients
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
5 ½ cups sweetened flaked coconut
⅔ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
Directions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Stir coconut, flour, and salt together in a large bowl. Mix in sweetened condensed milk and vanilla using your hands until well blended.
- Use a small ice cream scoop to drop coconut mixture onto the prepared cookie sheets.
- Bake in the preheated oven until coconut is toasted, about 12 to 15 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Tips: Use a mix of sweetened and unsweetened coconut. Dip in chocolate for extra indulgence.
4. Chocolate Trifle
Layered brownies, pudding, and whipped topping—a showstopper dessert that’s easy to assemble.
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Additional Time: 8 hrs 30 mins
Total Time: 9 hrs 25 mins
Servings: 12
Ingredients
1 (1.5 ounce) bar chocolate candy
1 (18.25 ounce) package brownie mix
1 large egg
¾ cup water, divided
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
Directions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch square glass baking pan.
- Combine brownie mix, egg, 1/4 cup water, and vegetable oil in a large bowl. Stir until well-blended, about 50 strokes. Spread into the prepared pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted 1 inch in from the edges comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
- Cut cooled brownies into 1-inch squares and set aside.
- Combine condensed milk, remaining 1/2 cup water, and pudding mix in a large bowl; mix until smooth. Fold in 8 ounces whipped topping until no streaks remain.
- Place 1/2 of the brownies in a trifle bowl or glass serving dish. Top with 1/2 of the pudding mixture, then 1/2 of the 12-ounce container of whipped topping. Repeat layers. Shave chocolate on top for garnish.
- Refrigerate 8 hours before serving.
Tips: Add toffee bits or nuts for crunch.
5. Creamy Rice Pudding
Classic creamy rice pudding with raisins—comforting and quick on the stovetop.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Servings: 4
Ingredients
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups cold water
¾ cup uncooked white rice
2 cups milk, divided
⅓ cup white sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 large egg, beaten
⅔ cup golden raisins
1 tablespoon butter
Directions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Pour water into a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat; stir in rice. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes.
- Combine cooked rice, 1 ½ cups milk, sugar, and salt in a clean saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until thick and creamy, about 15 minutes.
- Stir in remaining 1/2 cup milk, beaten egg, and raisins; cook 2 minutes more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla until combined.
- Serve warm.
Tips: Use short-grain rice for creamier texture. Swap raisins for cranberries.
6. Banana Pudding
No-cook layered banana pudding with wafers—creamy and effortless.
Prep Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Servings: 20
Ingredients
12 small bananas, sliced or more as needed
2 cups cold milk
1 (5-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (16-ounce) package vanilla wafers
Directions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Place milk and pudding mix in a large bowl; beat with a whisk for 2 minutes. Whisk in condensed milk until smooth.
- Stir in vanilla, then fold in whipped topping.
- Arrange a layer of wafers in the bottom of a glass serving bowl. Top with a layer of banana slices, then a layer of pudding mixture; repeat layers until all ingredients are used.
- For best results, chill pudding in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. Top with extra crushed wafers just before serving.
- Enjoy!
Tips: Use banana pudding mix for more flavor. Chill for better setting.
7. Easy Cream Cheese Pound Cake
Dense pound cake with cream cheese—simple ingredients, big flavor.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 1 hr 20 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins
Servings: 14 (one 10-inch cake)
Ingredients
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups butter
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
3 cups white sugar
6 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
Directions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.
- Cream butter and cream cheese together in a mixing bowl until smooth. Gradually add sugar and beat until fluffy.
- Add eggs, two at a time, beating well with each addition. Add flour all at once and mix in. Mix in vanilla. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 20 minutes, checking for doneness at 1 hour. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean. Remove and cool before serving.
- Serve and enjoy!
Tips: Dust with powdered sugar. Add lemon zest for a citrus twist.
8. Big Soft Ginger Cookies
Soft, spiced ginger cookies—great for holidays or anytime you want warmth in a bite.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Additional Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Servings: 24 cookies
Ingredients
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 large egg
¼ cup molasses
Directions
- Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Set 2 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl; set aside.
- Sift flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt into a bowl.
- Beat butter and remaining 1 cup sugar in a separate large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, then stir in molasses and water. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture until well combined.
- Use floured hands to shape dough into 24 walnut-sized balls. Roll each ball in the reserved sugar until coated.
- Place cookies 2 inches apart onto un-greased cookie sheets, and flatten slightly with the bottom of a glass.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, switching racks halfway through.
- Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy!
Tips: Replace water with orange juice for a citrus note. Freeze dough balls for easy baking later.
9. Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti
Colorful Italian cookies with cranberries and pistachios—perfect with coffee.
Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Additional Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
Servings: 36 cookies
Ingredients
½ cup dried cranberries
¾ cup white sugar
¼ cup light olive oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
2 large eggs
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups pistachio nuts
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix sugar and oil together in a large bowl until well blended. Mix in vanilla and almond extracts, then beat in eggs. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl; gradually stir into egg mixture until combined. Fold in pistachios and cranberries by hand.
- Divide dough in half. Form each piece into a 12×2-inch log on the prepared cookie sheet. Dough may be sticky; wet hands with cool water to handle dough more easily.
- Bake in the preheated oven until logs are light brown, about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
- Reduce oven temperature to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
- Cut logs on the diagonal into 3/4-inch-thick slices. Lay cookies cut-side down on the cookie sheet.
- Bake cookies until dry, 8 to 10 minutes.
Tips: Omit salt if using salted pistachios. Dip in chocolate for a treat.
10. Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
Comforting peanut butter cookies with the classic fork marks—timeless and tasty.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Additional Time: 1 hr
Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
Servings: 48 cookies
Ingredients
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
Directions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Beat butter, peanut butter, white sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth; beat in eggs.
- Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a separate bowl; stir into butter mixture until dough is just combined. Chill cookie dough in the refrigerator for 1 hour to make it easier to work with.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten each ball with a fork, making a crisscross pattern.
- Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden, about 7 to 10 minutes.
- Cool on the baking sheets briefly before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips: Chill dough for better shape. Use smooth peanut butter if preferred.
There you have it—10 mouthwatering desserts ready to satisfy any sweet craving! These recipes are straightforward, packed with flavor, and sure to impress. Pick one (or a few) and get baking. Happy indulging!